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Monday, October 8, 2012

A (Wednes)day In The Life

Today was one of those days that makes me truly appreciate my
decision to attend Macalester. I’m a baseball player, an improviser, a history
major, a tour guide coordinator, an avid Oakland Athletics fan and someone who
truly enjoys his sleep. Today, Macalester helped me bring all of those
together.

9 a.m.: Wake up to two simultaneous alarms. I manage to turn
mine off before my roommate gets to his. Already a good sign.

9:25 a.m.: Walk to Dunn Bros. coffee shop to share a chai tea
with a friend. Casually sit next to a professor of mine working on her next
book.

10:50 a.m.: Oceans in World History with Professor Vélez, featuring a caricature of the
author we read last night and an analysis of its validity.

1:10 pm: Re-Envisioning Education and Democracy with
Professor Kurth-Schai. A vibrant discussion of the pros and cons of
reauthorizing No Child Left Behind legislation, held in the sunshine outside of
the new Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center.

2:35 p.m.: The Oakland Athletics play the Texas Rangers in
the last game of the 2012 regular season. Six friends and teammates crowd onto
two couches in our apartment to watch.

3:24 p.m.: A dead sprint across campus to make it on time for
a 3:30 p.m. session in the weight room with the baseball team.

4:14 p.m.: A second sprint across campus back to my apartment
to watch the rest of the game. This sprint took a bit longer, however, thanks
to my tired legs.

5:41 p.m.: A celebratory pizza from the Italian Pie Shoppe
across the street: The Oakland A's are going to the Playoffs!

7 p.m.: Watch home volleyball match against St. Benedict in
the Leonard Center.

8:15 p.m.: Make a third and final sprint across campus to get
back home in time to watch most of the Presidential debate.

8:36 p.m.: My roommate brings back a second pizza, unaware
that I had eaten one just hours earlier. I manage to grab a slice.

To be fair, not every day at Macalester is like this. I’ve
spent my share of time in the library late at night writing essays, and I’ve
had days when I haven’t exactly jumped out of bed. That being said, today shows
me that Macalester can always remind me of why I decided to come here. Thanks
to my classes, friends, and teammates, I wake up every morning knowing I want
to be the first one to shut off the alarm.